DIY Network

Building a Door Frame A sturdy, straight frame is essential for any door installation. From "Bathroom Renovations" episode DBTR-501

With their bathroom gutted, Andy and JP are ready to install their new French doors. Amy Matthews helps them build a frame that will let their new, larger doors swing true.

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It takes a good-fitting frame to hang a good-looking door.

Materials:

safety glasses
work gloves
tape measure
marker
dust mask
2x8 lumber
2x4 lumber
sliding miter saw
wood lath or sheetrock
framing nailer

Building a Door Frame

• Carefully measure the outside of the new door jamb; the new frame will need to fit snugly around the jamb for a stable installation.

• Measure the depth (shorter side) of the 2x4 lumber. Remember, a 2x4 doesn’t actually measure 2 inches by 4 inches. Multiply this measurement by 2 and add it to the width of the door jamb: This will be the width of the header.

  Note: Always measure carefully and make perfectly straight cuts when cutting lumber for a door frame. This will make it much easier to bring the frame into plumb and get a professional result on the installation.
  

  	Figure A
  	Figure B

• Measure and cut two pieces of 2x8 lumber and two pieces of 2x4 lumber to the header width (figure A). Amy Matthews used a sliding miter saw for its precision and ability to handle large pieces of lumber.

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and use caution when working with a miter saw or any type of power saw. Make sure you understand and follow all of the manufacturer’s safety precautions.

• Stack the 2x8s, evening up the edges. Line up one of the 2x4s along one of the long sides of this stack, standing it up so that the longer face of the 2x4 rests against the 2x8s.

• Place wood lath or sheetrock in between the 2x8s until the top 2x8 lines up with the top of the 2x4.

• Wearing safety glasses, use a framing nailer and 3-1/4" nails to nail the 2x8s together. Keep the edges of the boards lined up and make sure the nails go through the wood lath or sheetrock to secure it in the middle of the "sandwich."

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and use extreme caution when using a framing nailer or any type of power nailer. These powerful tools can drive a nail instantly through a piece of wood – or a hand or foot.

• Use the framing nailer and 3-1/4" nails (figure B) to nail the 2x4s to close off the long edges of the header. These 2x4s will serve as the bottom and top of the header.

• Measure the height of the header and add this measurement to the height of the door jamb. Wearing safety glasses, cut two pieces of 2x4 lumber to this length.

• Cut two 2x4s to the height of the door jamb.

• Stack one of the shorter 2x4s on top of one of the longer 2x4s, lining them up at one end. Nail them together using the framing nailer. Repeat for the other two 2x4s. These will be the sides of the door frame.

• Position one of the side pieces with the header so that the longer 2x4 runs up the side of the header and comes up flush with the top of the header. Attach it to the header with the framing nailer. Repeat the process for the other side.

• Measure the inside of the new door frame and check it against the new door jamb.

With the new door frame built, it’s time to create the right opening and install the door. Click the link below to see how.